The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1887-10-07

play. When the pageant has gone by
many hurry to catch view of it from
some other point, many return to their
homes, but it is midnight before the
streets are cleared, and it is nearly morn
ing before quiet is restored.
Meantime the procession has wound its
way through the principal streets of the
city, completing its journey when it
reaches the southern entrance to the
Chamber of Commerce building, where
each float discharges it's gayly costumed
load and is trundled off in darkness to
the ''den," from which, but an hour be-
fore, it emerged in all its brilliancy.
The characters, as they are assisted to
alight, are instructed to enter the building
apd occupy the first large room to the
right of the entrance. This room has
been shut off from the outer world and
well curtained. Upstairs in the great
hall of the Merchants Exchange prepara-
tions are soing forward for the ball given
by the Prophets every year to their St.
Louis friends and visitors. The high gal
leries have been hung with bunting while
on the walls behind are arranged in
graceful folds the banners Of the Proph-
cts These banners are of odd design
in red and yellow stripe, with a trans
verse stripe of royal purple bearing the
Prophets seal. From the galleries depend
baskets of flowers and trailing vines; be-
tween them cages of birds whose mer-
ry notes mingle with the FLASHING of the
fountain in the center of the floor Over this
fountain has been built bower covered
with vines and dotted with fragrant bios
SONS. A bank of moss and ferns forms
the bowers base Over the main en-
trance of the hall rises huge floral arch.
Opposite the entrance is the rostrum on
which are seated the sixty musicians hid
den from view by a bank of cut flowers
and blossoming plants. Above their
heads hangs suspended the chariot
of the grand oracle, with three
horses drawing it through the air
apparently at full speed. Beneath
them the letters "V. P.'' are outlined in
flame. Around the sides of the big hall
are arranged tiers of seats for the benefit
of those who wish to rest during the in
termissions between the dances, Every
where there is profusion of flowers.
This is the general plan of decoration. 1t
is varied each season to suit the subject
illustrated in the pageant.
Shortly after II o'clock the grand
oracle and his attendant followers are
announced, The oracle who, from the
last float in the pageant, has showered
blessings on the crowd in the streets, is a
venerable individual with a flowing white
beard and heavy, white eyebrows and an
unnaturally ruddy complexion. He is
clad in O flowing robe of satin covered
with gold embroidery and heavily studded
with jewels and on his head he wears
massive crown. His attendant high
priests are clad in rich robes of silk and
satin. Following in his train two and
two are the characters from the tableaux
in the street pageant, all handsomely cos
TUNED and securely masked. The chair
man of the reception committee meets the
grand oracle at the door and, taking his
arm, leads him about the hall, the center
of which has been cleared. The long pro-
cession follows Presently it divides and the
two long lines coil in and out, finally meet
ing and Joining into one procession again.
A whistle is sounded. Instantly the line
breaks and the Prophets lningle with the
crowd, most of them seeking partners for
the first quadrille, in which none but the
Prophets and their lady partners can par
ticipate When the quadrille is over the
Prophets disperse gradually, some OF them
remaining on the floor until a late hour.
The dancing is kept up by their guests
until o'clock.
The Yelled Prophets organization was
formed in 1878 in part imitation of the
s'Mystick Krewen of New Orleans and
similar organizations in other southern
cities. 1t is O secret institution, but, as far
as is known, its membership includes all
the wealthiest and most prominent busi-
ness men in the city. These gentlemen
contribute about $40, 600 every year to the
organization, realizing return in the
pleasure they and their friends derive
from the entertainment and in the increase
in business and wealth which necessarily y
follows the gathering of SO many thousand
people as visitors to st. Louis for the pur-
pose OF witnessing the pageant. These